veganmofo #3: the intersection of mathematics and dinner

i was wary of doing too much to the romanesco, lest i strip it of its defining beauty, so i went on the hunt for a simple dish that would allow me to use florets. i found a mario batali recipe for orrechiette with broccoli and chickpeas, which i modified slightly. behold, shells with romanesco and chickpeas.

(what? you want i should say i made a cheap version of mario's dish? first, do you know how it feels to be low-budgeting a guy that wears orange crocs? on the other hand, if you knew orrechiette is $4 at my deli, would you judge me harshly for passing on it? and C, let's face it, i wasn't about to walk an extra half-block without a guarantee that i would find what i was after!)

i balanced my plate with more leftovers from last night, the awe-inspiring caesar salad with roasted garlic croutons from veganomicon. normally, i wouldn't even consider eating leftover salad that had already been dressed, but this batch held up okay overnight. the croutons lost their crunch, but i used a nice, chewy bread to make them, so they still held their own. i've pretty much been eating this salad twice a day for the last couple of weeks. my waistline owes terry a huge debt of gratitude. for reals, i love that woman.